SCHAFER AUTISM REPORT "Healing Autism:
No Finer a Cause on the Planet"
________________________________________________________________
Wednesday, October 13, 2004 Vol. 8 No. 160



COMMENTARY
* The Rise and Fall of Neo-Mengelism - Autism atrocities?

PUBLIC HEALTH
* Efforts to Ban Preservative In Flu Shots Revived

ADVOCACY
* Kentucky Family Searches For Answers To Son's Autism

RESEARCH
* NIMH Grant to Explore Genetics of Autism

CARE
* Autistic Boy's Death Under Investigation in Ohio
* Disaster & Help for Autism in Florida - On East Coast & Gulf Coast
* Florida Autism University Group Starts Hurricane Assistance Effort

LETTERS
* On Finding the "Real Causes" of Autism

CLARIFICATION
* On Website Polls (and State Lotteries)



COMMENTARY

The Rise and Fall of Neo-Mengelism
Autism atrocities?
Lenny Schafer
Editor

Let us not forget the importance of inoculations for saving the lives
of thousands from infectious diseases. We cannot jeopardize the public's
health by unduly questioning the safety and effectiveness of vaccines. All
the medical studies we have done or analyzed have shown there is no
connection between vaccines and autism. Even a prestigious and independent
scientific institution says vaccines are safe. Not only that, they warn the
public that there should be no further research into the connections between
the shots and the disability, as a waste of time and money.
This summarizes the government's official position in this
controversial matter before us. Specifically, this is the collective policy
of the Food and Drug Administration, The Centers for Disease and Prevention
and the National Institutes of Health. These agencies are made up and run
by medical scientists.
Senator Bill Frist, Senate majority leader and a medical doctor, has
insisted numerous times in congress that despite all the government
reassurances, the scientific studies, and the warnings of the potential
lethal plagues caused by reductions of vaccination rates, there are still
some who remain unconvinced vaccines are safe and are taking matters to
court and to the public. Frist and defenders of the status quo say that
lawyers are manipulating parents of autistic children into not believing all
this solid evidence and thus threaten the public's health (and the health
and profitability of pharmaceutical companies that make the vaccines.)
Frist argues that the parent lawsuits over alleged vaccine damage from
the preservative Thimerosal are "frivolous" seeking to unfairly exploit the
"deep pockets" of the pharmaceutical industry. Because American civil juries
have demonstrated that they cannot always be trusted to find the truth and
award appropriate compensation, Frist asserts that special laws must be
enacted to prohibit the filing of any vaccine related lawsuits to protect
the public from such de facto domestic terrorism.
Some, and a growing number of parents with family autism see all this
as a dark conspiracy by public health officials, pharmaceutical companies,
and politicians to cover up their own negligence and duplicity for creating
and sustaining a horrendous autism epidemic in the name of the public good.
Still many, if not most such parents do not share this view, it should be
noted.
At tremendous stake for the alleged conspirators is not only the
defense of the nation's vaccination institutions and public health, but also
for some, the profitability of client pharmaceutical companies with whom
they work with closely. Also at risk is their political power, their
scientific and medical careers, and quite possibly their personal freedom --
as a result of their "criminal" actions being discovered.
The magnitude of the motive for such a cover-up conspiracy is
overwhelming. There is so much as stake here, the conspiracy goes, that it
could be reasonably suspected that usually honest, well-meaning people in
quiet times are now motivated by such duress to deny the truth of the harm
they or their institutions have wreaked, and outright lie.
The opportunity for causing and defending such would-be crimes against
humanity is one of near perfection. The latitude of power public health
officials have over the public is as strong as it gets in a democracy. In
the name of public health, emergency and non-emergency measures can be
enacted to enforce control over the behavior of citizens considered to be a
medical threat. Vaccines can be and are mandated. A citizen's willful or
accidental violation of such measures can result in a range of sanctions,
from loss of services of government agencies and refusal of government
employment to quarantine (imprisonment).
The FDA, the CDC and the NIH are generally expected by congress to
police themselves and the medications that are sold, mandated and
distributed, especially the ones that they themselves distribute to the
public, like vaccines. These agencies use peer-reviewed controlled research
and testing as the scientific basis for their public health policy. But
these same agencies have enormous influence over scientists and the science
they produce by their selection of who get research grants and their
potential to destroy careers of those who too strongly challenge official
orthodoxy. Consequently, they have the power and the wherewithal to create
any "scientific proof" as needed to defend policy. Also, they are strongly
influenced in many areas of science by the pharmaceutical industry that they
are charged with regulating and who are politically well connected.
But is profound motivation and perfect opportunity enough to make a
case for criminal conspiracy? And what crimes are the government committing,
anyway? The foremost official criminal act is the sacrificing of the health
and quality of life of a few in the name of the public good, in the effort
to defend the nations inoculation program at any cost. The government's
wholesale denial of any and all scientific evidence of a vaccine-autism
connection serves only to reinforce the belief by some parents of the
government's willingness to pay any price for a cover up, including the
sacrifice of the truth.
The justification for sacrificing a few for the many appears to be
sound if there are only a rare number of adverse reactions to the vaccines.
But it is not sound, nor morally justified when nothing is in place to keep
a rare few numbers injured from growing to epidemic scale, as it has with
autism. The greater the autism epidemic grows, the more this
rationalization becomes ridiculous and further exposed. To this day, in the
face of growing evidence, the government still refuses to acknowledge any
real growth in the autism population.
The willingness to sacrifice few in the name of the greater good is
not a new concept in medicine or politics. History has shown that such
philosophy applied to medicine can lead to wide scale medical atrocities.
The notorious Josef Mengele, a high-ranking medical doctor in the
Germany Nazi government used the same rationalizations to justify horrific
and atrocious experiments on concentration camp victims, who were killed and
maimed as a result. The greater good of the health of the Aryan nation that
was gained from the knowledge gathered from such experiments was considered
far more important than those who were sacrificed. These were sacrificed
men, women and children who were considered "frivolous" and expendable.
What parents and observers may be witnessing in public health policy
is a virulent strain of neo-mengelism taking hold when it comes to autism
and other epidemics of chronic disorders. When parents are publicly reminded
over and over again of the importance of the national inoculation program,
while at the same time the growing evidence of science -- and what parents
have witnessed before their own eyes to the contrary is denied -- and their
children labeled frivolous, the explanation is seen as little more than
propaganda to be rejected. The growing fear is that autism is a willful
medical atrocity done at the hands of self-preserving public health
neo-mengelists. In addition to having enormous motive and perfect
opportunity to commit such crimes, they have no alibi, no alternate
explanation for the autism epidemic, let alone admit that there is one.
To stop the alleged autism atrocities, parents and friends would have
to bring to their downfall the neo-mengelists behind it. Parents are doing
this, albeit slowly. They are raising money for research to get at the
truth and treatment the government refuses to do. They are getting laws
passed to get mercury removed from vaccines, which the government also
refuses to do. Parents have no other choice than to depend on themselves to
protect their children from becoming public health and pharmaceutical
industry fodder in the name of the greater good and corporate profit.
Conspiracy or not, parents have no other choice than to depend on themselves
to find ways to bring healing to those children already injured. Their
efforts are chronicled daily in this newsletter. As always, it is down to
parents to be the final advocates for their children. They can use some
help.

[The opinions expressed are those of the writer only and do not
necessarily reflect the views of all who contribute to this publication.
Opposing views are welcomed for submission: edit@...]






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* * *

PUBLIC HEALTH

Efforts to Ban Preservative In Flu Shots Revived

[By Robyn Shelton for The Orlando Sentinel.]
http://www.sanluisobispo.com/mld/sanluisobispo/news/nation/9879883.htm

Orlando, Fla. - KRT - The government's push this year to vaccinate
young children against the flu has triggered new interest in banning a
mercury-based preservative found in most influenza shots.
Called thimerosal, the preservative was used in many children's
vaccines until manufacturers began phasing it out in 1999 amid concerns that
mercury might contribute to autism and other developmental disorders.
America's reduced supply of about 54 million influenza vaccines this
flu season still includes 4.6 million shots that are free of thimerosal. The
nation's total supply of almost 100 million doses was slashed nearly in half
last week after the British government withheld a major manufacturer's
shipment because of quality concerns.
In the ensuing pinch to get a vaccine in coming weeks, parents might
not have the luxury of requesting doses without the preservative. Some are
worried about exposing their children to thimerosal in that instance. But
most doctors think there's a much greater risk in foregoing the vaccination.
Influenza caused a startling string of children's deaths early last
season, prompting a run on flu shots and panic among parents in some
hard-hit states such as Colorado.
"Get the vaccine," said Dr. Douglas Short, a pediatrician at Arnold
Palmer Hospital for Children & Women in Orlando, Fla. "No one has ever been
proven to have been harmed by thimerosal, while lots and lots of babies get
really sick from the flu every year and a few will die from it. It's an
obvious risk versus a theoretical one."
But even so, some parents, doctors and now, members of Congress, are
calling for more research on thimerosal. U.S. Rep. Dave Weldon, R-Fla.,
thinks the federal government should ban the substance in all vaccines, or
at least keep it out of all children's doses.
He sits on a congressional subcommittee that held a hearing on
thimerosal last week in Washington.
Weldon is not convinced by U.S. and European studies that have found
no link between thimerosal and autism, nor by the expert panels that have
drawn similar conclusions.
He says the studies have been so flawed in their designs or otherwise
limited that they are evidence of the half-hearted, dismissive attitude by
the scientific community toward the topic.
"My biggest complaint is they have never taken this issue seriously
and funded the necessary research" to truly study thimerosal, said Weldon, a
medical doctor and father.
Thimerosal contains a little-understood form of mercury called
ethylmercury. It has been used in vaccines for more than 50 years as a way
to prevent contamination in vials that contain more than one dose.
Children's vaccines are now sold in single-doses, eliminating the need for
the preservative.
But influenza shots - which just this year became a routine
recommendation for babies age 6-23 months - historically have been focused
on adults. Most say thimerosal is not a threat to adults, who are larger in
size and fully mature.
Experts say children, with their small bodies and rapid, ongoing
development, are more vulnerable to potential toxins such as mercury.
Governmental and professional organizations such as the American
Academy of Pediatrics joined in 1999 to support removing thimerosal from
children's inoculations.
The move came after the Food and Drug Administration discovered that
some children were receiving enough thimerosal in vaccines during their
first six months to exceed EPA limits on a similar form of mercury called
methylmercury, which can be found in mercury-contaminated fish.
The EPA doesn't have enough data to establish limits for ethylmercury.
But its cousin methylmercury has been linked to problems with vision,
learning and coordination. Health officials said the decision to remove
thimerosal from childhood vaccines was strictly precautionary.
Several large studies within the past couple of years alone have not
found any evidence that thimerosal is linked to autism, a complex
developmental disorder that affects a child's ability to communicate and
interact with others.
+ Article continues:
http://www.sanluisobispo.com/mld/sanluisobispo/news/nation/9879883.htm
* * *

ADVOCACY

Kentucky Family Searches For Answers To Son's Autism

[By Jay Ditzer. Thanks to Jim Donnelly.]
http://www.whas11.com/topstories/stories/WHAS11_TOP_Autism.264b312b.html

A Kentuckiana family says forces too big to fight have stymied their
search for answers to their son’s autism. They say they will accept the
verdict of medical tests, if only they could find someone willing to do
them.
Evan Riggle's parents are no closer to finding the cause of his autism
today than they were seven months ago, when we first met Evan and heard
their theory that a vaccination injured him.
For three years they have been trying to prove it and hold
pharmaceutical companies accountable.
"To make sure that where our children are concerned, there are very
high standards of accountability; that parents aren't just blatantly told,
‘Well, it's safe,’ but it’s proven to be safe," says Emlyn Riggle, Evan’s
mother.
It is an arduous effort to recover Evan. He's been subjected to a
barrage of treatments, drugs and supplements. And now his parents say
they're in limbo, waiting since January for the results of a spinal tap that
has been sent from Louisville to Florida to Ireland and back to Florida
after a researcher said he could no longer do those tests.
Evan Riggle's parents say they're in limbo, waiting since January for
the results of a spinal tap that could answer questions about Evan's autism.
"His professorship was threatened to be pulled and his research money
was threatened to be retracted if he continued to process samples that were
showing positive live measles virus in the spinal fluid of some autistic
children," says Emlyn.
Why is that important? If the same measles strain is in both Evan's
spinal fluid and his MMR shot, the Riggles say that proves the vaccination
injured him and thousands more like him whose genetic makeup made them
vulnerable.
"A lot of politics and money are involved," Emlyn says. "This
immunization is related to autism is a huge controversy."
Controversial indeed: The government says vaccines are safe. And
pediatricians warn that dangers are far greater from not getting immunized.
"I don't have all that background and I don't have those kinds of
resources, but I have a son that I know without a shadow of a doubt one day
was fine, got his immunization and then he wasn't fine," says David Riggle.
But the Riggles say they're not anti-immunization, only adamant that
they be done safer -- and the only way that will happen is if they can prove
that it's a vaccine that injured their son.
A possible breakthrough today in the Riggles’ quest to get that spinal
tap finally tested. Evan's doctor says he has found a lab willing to test
the spinal fluid.
When those results come back, we'll let you know.
* * *

RESEARCH

NIMH Grant to Explore Genetics of Autism

http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/oct2004/nimh-12a.htm

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), part of the National
Institutes of Health, announced this week a 3-year, $3 million grant to
Johns Hopkins University to study the genetic factors underlying autism.
In an average year, 2 to 6 new cases of Autism, a neuropsychiatric
disorder, arise per 1,000 children. While at least 80 percent of the
disorder is due to hereditary factors, experts believe it develops from an
interaction between environmental factors and multiple unknown genes. The
Johns Hopkins research team, led by Aravinda Chakravarti, Ph.D., proposes to
use new genetic analysis technologies to dissect the complex
neuropsychiatric traits of autism.
"Although the role of hereditary factors in autism is not in doubt,
their nature remains elusive and no single causal gene has yet been
identified," said NIMH Director Thomas R. Insel, M.D. "This initiative is
part of a group of projects put forward by NIMH to begin unraveling the
underlying genetics of autism."
The study will apply novel statistical methods and molecular
technologies to identify specific genetic markers, or polymorphisms —
naturally-occurring genetic variations — that may be related to autism. To
accomplish this, the researchers will use DNA and clinical data from the
NIMH Human Genetics Initiative (www.nimhgenetics.org) and the Autism Genetic
Research Exchange (www.agre.org), two large repositories of research
resources available to the scientific community. The investigators aim to
identify specific gene variants that contribute to vulnerability to autism.
* * *

CARE

Autistic Boy's Death Under Investigation in Ohio
Boy's Death In West Columbus Group Home Investigated

http://www.10tv.com/Global/story.asp?S=2422387

Who is responsible for the death of Kasey Warner? The battle lines
appear to be drawn between Franklin County Children Services and an outside
contractor.
The 13-year-old boy died October 8 in a west Columbus group home for
autistic children -- less than 48 hours after being placed there by Children
Services. The public agency says a contract with ViaQuest Behavioral Health
outlined care requirements that would have protected Kasey.
Kasey Warner's autism was so severe he had never spoken a word. His
mother believed --indeed was promised -- that her son would have constant
one-on-one supervision at the group home.
Why then was he left alone to die in a bathtub in 12 inches of water?
Francis Mensah was alone that night with three autistic children. He says
he was never told Kasey needed constant supervision.
Mensah, employed by ViaQuest, told 10TV over the phone that Kasey was
restless during the night and even knocked over a dresser. At 3:30 a.m.,
Mensah heard Kasey in the bathroom. But he says he didn't check on the boy
for more than hour, and that’s when he found him dead. Mensah told 10TV
that he called 9-1-1 right away, which would have been around 4:30 a.m. But
Columbus Police records show the emergency call wasn't made for nearly
another hour.
A ViaQuest supervisor answered questions about his company that runs
group homes, and the employees who work for them.
"In that house, 1:3 is sufficient," ViaQuest regional director Mitch
Snyder said of the required staff-to-client ratio for the Warren Avenue
group home where Kasey died.
But Franklin County Children Services executive director John Saros
says ViaQuest was required to provide one-on-one care for the autistic
children in that house.
Saros showed 10TV a contract for Kasey's care. It started October 6,
the day Kasey entered the home after being brought here from another
facility in Indiana.
ViaQuest would be paid $340 a day to provide for Kasey, and the boy
would get his own staff member -- one-on-one supervision -- 24 hours a day,
7 days a week.
"I do not have a one-on-one contract for Kasey. That I’m certain of,"
Snyder said in response to Saros’ claim.
In fact, ViaQuest did not have the finalized contract because it had
not been signed yet.
"This is really an administrative technicality as far as I’m
concerned," Saros said.
That’s because, according to Saros, two weeks before Kasey went to the
group home, Children Services and ViaQuest met to discuss the boy’s needs.
The outcome of that meeting, the agreement to care for the boy, was a
legally binding oral contract, Saros said.
Saros says if one-on-one supervision was not provided, then there’s an
issue of responsibility on the part of ViaQuest.
In the meantime, Francis Mensah, the ViaQuest staffer in the home the
morning of Kasey’s death, has been placed on leave.
And Kasey Warner has been buried.
The Franklin County coroner was waiting for medical records and
toxicology tests on Tuesday to determine the exact cause of Kasey's death.
Francis Mensah also told 10TV that the night Kasey died was his first
night on the job at the Warren Avenue group home. Mensah had been working
for ViaQuest since April 2004. The company told 10TV that all group home
staff members get 40 hours of classroom training at ViaQuest's offices in
Dublin. New employees then spend another 40 hours "shadowing" a staff
member before being assigned to a group home.
* * *

Disaster and Help for Autism in Florida - On the East Coast and Gulf Coast

[This announcement from the National Autism Association. See also
below: "Florida Autism University Group Starts Hurricane Assistance Effort
Disaster on Florida Gulf Coast." -Editor.]

The Florida Hurricanes devastated more than just buildings. Together
we can help those in the Autism Community impacted by the storms.
The National Autism Association will hold a four-day donation drive
starting Wednesday, October 13th through Saturday, October 16th, in response
to the disasters.
Proceeds from all sales placed in our online store will be given to
the ICDRC - International Child Development Resource Center and Drs.
Bradstreet and Kartzinel whose practice was severely damaged by the storms.
Bradstreet and Kartzinel have treated thousands of children with autism
across the country. Their organization, the ICDRC, is one of the few
medical treatment centers that does clinical autism research. To donate
click here
http://www.nationalautismassociation.org/proddetail.php?prod=ICDRC or simply
make a purchase in our online store. When checking out, enter the code
ICDRC and you will receive a 10% discount on your order. As our thank you
gift, you will receive a free autism awareness ribbon car magnet with any
donation! All donations are tax-deductible.
If you prefer to send a check directly to ICDRC, please mail to ICDRC,
1688 W. Hibiscus Blvd., Melbourne, FL 32901

Three Hurricanes plus Autism-the Aftermath at ICDRC
A letter from Dr. Jeff Bradstreet

First, we have survived and the work continues to recover children
form autism. Brevard and Osceola Counties, home to ICRDC, have been struck
by an unprecedented 3 hurricanes within six weeks. In August, Charley hit
Celebration Hospital and Orlando as a category 2 storm, and in September
both Frances and Jeanne shook Brevard with gusts exceeding 125 mph; Jeanne
as a powerful category 3-4 storm and devastated South/Central Florida. The
medical office sustained significant water intrusion which is still being
repaired, but we are open. The ICDRC special needs school had minimal
damage, but was turned into an evacuation center in the evenings for
employees and families of school children. Many families were without power
or lost their homes, so we housed them at the school after-hours. Some
employees and families of the ICDRC School have had their homes condemned or
needed to temporarily move out, due to roof and water damage, including Dr.
Jerry, whose home is not inhabitable. About 30% of Brevard County schools
were severely damaged and most of our neighbors have wind and water damage.
All of the oceanfront hotels are closed until further notice.
Almost 3 weeks of school have been lost by the combined hurricanes,
and several of our patients and school families are out of work as a result
of these disasters.
We have experienced an unprecedented financial drain due to these
hurricanes, and sadly, must ask for additional help from our friends and
families, so the research we are actively involved with can continue. We are
therefore asking for your prayers and special support for ICDRC as we
recover. Donations of any amount are greatly appreciated and tax deductible
as we are a 501c3 nonprofit. Know also, we are very prudent in the way we
allocate your gifts and recognize the sacrifice your donation represents.
As always, we continue the fight against autism, regardless of the
adversities we face. Persistence within this unique providential event is
what we believe will assure our success in the battle to defeat autism.





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* * *

Florida Autism University Group Starts Hurricane Assistance Effort
Disaster on Florida Gulf Coast.

[From an organization announcement.]

Tallahassee, The Florida State University Center for Autism and
Related Disabilities (CARD) serves children and adults with autism and
related disabilities in 18 counties in the panhandle area of Florida. Autism
is a lifelong neurological disability that affects a person’s ability to
communicate, understand language, play and socially interact with others.
Many also have difficulty with changes to surroundings or routines. This
difficulty can cause challenging behaviors such as aggression, self injury
or severe withdrawal.
The panhandle of Florida, in particular, Escambia and Santa Rosa
counties were severely impacted by the effects of Hurricane Ivan. While the
devastating effects of a hurricane are hard for many families, children with
autism are particularly impacted due to changes in their routines, and many
aren’t able to comprehend what is happening, or communicate their fears or
questions.
CARD serves over 300 families in the area affected by Ivan, many of
whom have lost their homes and/or their belongings. Many of these families
had no insurance to cover their lost belongings. We have set up a fund to
provide financial assistance to families of children with autism affected by
the hurricane. We are working with the Autism Society of Florida to
distribute the funding.
If anyone would like to make a donation to provide financial
assistance to individuals with autism and their families, they can make a
check out to Autism Society of Florida, mark it "Hurricane Assistance" and
send it to : FSU Center for Autism, Hurricane Assistance, 625-B N. Monroe
Street, Tallahassee, FL 32301.
100% of the funds donated to the Hurricane Assistance for Individuals
with Autism Fund will be use for DIRECT ASSISTANCE to families; no funds
will be used for overhead or administrative costs. The Autism Society of
Florida is a 501(c)3 organization. All donations will be tax deductible.
* * *

LETTERS

On Finding the "Real Causes" of Autism

In a recent oped letter to the Austin, Texas American-Statesman, Dr.
Jill Nichols suggests that instead of "blaming vaccines" we should find out
"the real causes" of autism.
That got me wondering -- would it perhaps sound "more real" to Dr.
Nichols if I published a research paper a few months from now, tracing the
origins of the autism epidemic in the US to immigrants between the ages of
20 to 40 from certain countries whose populations are deemed, shall we say,
genetically suspect? Or would a study linking autism and certain types of
carpeting in homes seem more plausible? Perhaps definitely more plausible
than studies linking thimerosal and autism. After all, as she points out,
there is utterly solid evidence of there being no link whatsoever -- never
mind that it was carried out by investigators with clear links to vaccine
manufacturers! I suppose a little conflict of interest wouldn't get in the
way of their brilliant research protocol or their published interpretation
of the data.
I am reminded of a line from a Shakespearean play: "Methinks she doth
protest too much." It astonishes me that physicians like Dr. Nichols
actually have the gall to present themselves as MORE concerned about babies
than the babies' parents themselves. It is also mischievous in the extreme
to present anti-thimerosal parents as being anti-vaccine. All we ask is
that vaccines be made SAFER.
The argument has always been about taking thimerosal out of vaccines
and spacing out the vaccine schedule. Why is our stand constantly analyzed
and presented by vaccine apologists in alarmist language, with warnings of
dire plagues and such, when the same people are willing to turn a blind eye
to the current plague of communication disorders that is robbing this
country of its potential? Don't people think beyond short-term expediency
any more? Thanks to the internet, and sources including current and former
employees of pharma companies, we parents have some idea that vaccines may
not be brewed under the most salubrious conditions -- which would explain
the need to buffer them in such a potent cocktail of preservatives.
I'd like to say to vaccine proponents -- there are many parents like
me, who are just in pursuit of the truth, and have not a shred of interest
in litigation. And I am here to say that we will be satisfied with nothing
less than the WHOLE truth, even if we have to struggle against a riptide of
opposition from the indoctrinated and the purchased.
-Chitra Raman
* * *

CLARIFICATION

On Website Polls (and State Lotteries)

Recently we forwarded an announcement from Unlocking Autism that they
were conducting an online poll of people who believe or don't believe that
Thimerosal caused their child's autism.
A reader wrote in to remind us that these are not scientifically valid
methods for finding out what the majority of people are thinking. One side
may be more motivated to go to a website to cast a vote running up the
numbers, but they might really be in the minority. The other side, while
may be in the majority, don't show up that way in the final count because
they're not as motivated to express themselves in this manner.
So why do people promote them if they are so unreliable? Because it's
a fun way to attract folks to your website. And some people get some
satisfaction making themselves heard in this way.
It's a little like playing the state lottery. It is a scientifically
known fact that this is a highly stupid way to invest your money with the
goal of making more of it. But clearly a lot of citizens get a thrill out
of the exercise, paycheck after paycheck. If there has to be an optional tax
on personal ignorance, this is a clever way for the state to collect it. At
least there is no danger of blowing the rent money on website
polling. -Editor



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follow the referenced website link provided at the beginning of each item.
_________________________________________________________________
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Edward Decelie Debbie Hosseini Richard Miles Ron Sleith Kay Stammers